MATERIALS

CURRICULUM

Seventh grade Social Studies is the first part of a two year survey course, covering United States History from prehistory to the present. During the seventh grade year, our students will begin with a brief review of geography. Students will then move on to a broad survey of the major civilizations of the Americas before the arrival of Europeans. Their next steps will be to a study of European explorers, Colonial America, and the American Revolution. After the December Recess, students will learn about the Constitution, and then take each period of American history in turn. The Washington Administration will give way to the Era of Jefferson and then the Age of Jackson. Brief interruptions will be made for the war of 1812, explorations of Lewis & Clark, and the dispute with Tripoli. After the Jackson Era, the class will turn its attention to the American themes of Industrialization, Westward Migration/Manifest Destiny, and the expansion of American tolerance and liberties. The year will wane with the beginnings of sectionalism. The class will arrive at its completion just prior to the beginning of the American Civil War, which will be the starting place of eighth grade Social Studies.

UNITS/CHAPTERS

&nbspChapters 0-1

Geograpy & The First Americans

&nbspChapter 2

Age of Exploration

&nbspChapter 3

Colonial America

&nbspChapter 4

The Colonies Grow

&nbspChapters 5-6

Road to Independace & The American Revolution

&nbspChapter 7

A More Perfect Union

&nbspChapter 8

A New Nation

&nbspChapter 9

The Jefferson Era

&nbspChapters 10-11

The Jackson Era

&nbspChapter 12

Manifest Destiny

&nbspChapters 13 & 10

North and South

&nbspChapter 14

The Age of Reform

GRADING

The grading system employed in this class is a point system. A student's average is dependent on the number of points they earn divided by the possible points available. If a student misses class they must make up the work the next day they are in class. If a student misses class for a music lesson they must still turn the assignment in when it was originally due. If a student fails to put their name on any assignment they will not get credit for that assignment. Late work without an excused absence, will be accepted at half credit until the end of any given marking period.

All homework assignments are posted on this website'scalendar. The two best tools to keep track of the academic progress of a seventh grade student are the homework texts and parent portal. Parent Portal accounts are available to all Gowanda Middle School parents. They allow you to look at all your child's grades in real time, as they are entered by your child’s teachers. Clickherefor more information on Parent Portal or the Homework Texts.

Homework is almost always due the next class day after it is assigned. Handouts are listed on this web page so all students can check what isdueand print off thehandout 24 hours a day. Unexcused late work will only be worth half credit. Homework is generally worth 10 points.

Projects/D.B.Q.’s are usually done in groups in class. When assigned as homework they are usually due within a week of being assigned. Projects are worth twenty-five points.

Tests are given after every unit and are worth 100 points. Tests usually count between 50%-60% of a chapter grade.

POLICES OF NOTE:

Substitute Teachers are to be treated with the utmost respect. Anyone who is mentioned negatively in a note left by a substitute will be given detention and the child's parent/guardian will also be notified.

Drinks and Food are not permitted in class. Any such contraband will be confiscated and thrown out.

Bathroom Trips are not permitted during class time unless a student has a genuine emergency.

Three Ring Binders are to be kept neat and in order. All pages will be numbered and kept track of in a table of contents. Inspections will be made for an organization grade approximately every five weeks.

Headings are required to be filled out on all handouts. Points will be taken off papers without names or complete headings.

Lateness to class without a pass will result in a mandatory detention. Class will not stop for you to catch up if you were late. Quietly ask the student next to you what you missed, or ask Mr. O’Donnell after class.

Backpacks and Bags will not be permitted in class.

Cell Phones will not be permitted in class. Any phone found in class will be turned into the main office.